The Whirlpool

or their most unexpected honesty. One had taken for granted the foolish tag abou

s, with a stake in his inside. (Where's that from?

, letters, morality, or social feeling. 'Besides, there's no merit in the verdict. It only means that the City j

hat, I dare say

wn name an income equal to that of her husband; yet she resigned it without fuss. Indeed, Sibyl never made a fuss about anything. She intimated her wishes, and, as they were always possible of gratification, obtained them as a matter of course. Naturally, since their marriage

she said, alluding to their

mother have her way about that money. If there had been a proper settlement, y

hich cost fifteen guineas. The weather was tur

e shunned his clubs, the Metropolitan and the Ramblers', because of a fear that his connection with the 'Britannia' was generally known; to hear talk on the subject would make him savage. He was gri

down,' said Sibyl. 'Y

el

flectively, and said

ast of having the most s

ng Mrs. Ascott Larkfield, but wou

's t

fair; I shan't go again. I really didn't know what a detestable temper she has. Her talk is outrageous. She doesn't behave like a la

But it isn't every one that ca

per with the servants. I wouldn't spend a day in that house now on any account. And, after all, I fi

the news with a b

That's s

re, you see, not to ri

ugh, 'that she hadn't c

r fury-congratulated herself on being so far pru

ended her: a deliberate judgment, in carefully chosen words. Hugh tried to smile,

s evening?' he ask

t of sorts. Dinner is at sev

id to leave lest they should incur suspicion. Domestic management was now In the hands of the cook. Sibyl always declared that she could not eat a dinner she had had the trouble of ordering, and she

yed, and very strong coffee. To a cigarette in the mouth of a woman she utterly objected; it offended her sense of the becoming, her delicate perception of propriety. When dining alone or with Hugh, she dressed as carefully as for a

from their immediate concerns, and with the usual g

-room or

ou would li

ched before him. He drank nothing. His gaze was fixed on a dish of fruit, and widened as if

and sat down opposite to her. Presently the newspaper dropped

el

el

at each ot

ou suggest

ays, when he said that his wife was like some little lovely bird, which he, great coarse fellow, had captured and

here one lives very comfortabl

it leads t

d lead to

use ought to be made of it. Everybody now

h interest, smil

come out of it-wishing

ning. He has got somebody to believe in his new smelting process-somebody in the

ting his thoughts. Sibyl mus

it for

ose who are in it

and to let her thoughts wander in pleasant d

hink I should like-tho

e's t

nol

ut that int

te is absolute perfection, and the l

San Francisco. It's anything

he thing is to get aw

Jove! it's an idea. I should li

ould go off with a certain eclat. Very different f

rst glance. A year of marriage, of idleness amid amusements, luxuries, extravagances, for which he had no taste, was bearing its natural result in masculine restiveness. His robust physique and temper, essentially combative, demanded liberty under conditions of rude or violent life. He was not likely to find a satisfying range in any mode of existence that would be shared by Sibyl. But he clutched at any chance of extensive travel.

s limbs in a su

ll we sell all this stuff?' waving

nk not. Wa

ys, to whatever his wife preferred. They talked with unwonted animation. A great atlas was opened, routes were fingered; half the earth's circumference vanished in a twinkl

Very light things, I suppose?

day was one to Miss Frothingham. 'Dear Alma,' it began,

ld rather be left alone. At the same time I feel sure that what has happened, though for a time it will sadden us both, cannot affect

answer, which began with 'Dearest Sibyl

was the fear that I should never hear from you again. I should not have dared to write. How noble you are!-but then I always knew that. I c

athy which perfect taste would not allow to become demonstrative. Alma could at first say nothing. The faint rose upon her cheek had vanished; her eyes were heavy, and lacked their vital gleam; her mouth, no longer mob

s trouble,' said Sibyl. 'But perh

-it was muc

wretched things, will we? If I c

fraid you w

ulness, her countenance already throwing off the decorous shadow, like a cloa

not! You are g

Mrs. Fro

ite delicacy, head and body bent

inted several times-yesterday was u

disagreeably; she always shunned the proximity of people in il

rry. But it wi

I have done

ure yo

d of comfort sounds heartless-wh

hat you have gone through. You must get away as soon as

air of discreet intere

t away. I shall se

; her hands never ceased to move and fidget; onl

too soon for you t

at once-Mamma will have enough to live upon, however things turn out. She has money of her own; but of course I have nothing-nothing whatever. I think, most likely, Mamma

ould be,' said the o

a profession-yes. But

our decided talent, I should think you co

Alma roused herself, lifted

e praise o

elf-assertion. 'Besides, we have agreed-haven't we?-that the impulse is everything. What you wish for

that was recovering its ordinary pitch and melody. 'I dare say I never should; I might

cour

Gassners, you remember. I could live there on little enough, and work, and feel free. Of course, there's really no reason why I shoul

ore pronounced. That she really liked Alma seemed as certain as that she felt neither affection nor esteem for any other person of her own sex. Herself not much inclined to feminine friendship, Alma had from the first paid voluntary homage to Sibyl's intellectual claims, and thought it a privilege to be admitted to her intimacy; being persuaded, moreover, that in Sibyl, and in Sibyl alone, she found genuine appreciation of her musical talent. Sibyl's choice of a husband had secretly surprised and disappointed her, for Hugh Carnaby was not the

,' Mrs. Carnaby replied to the

, with an air of soft so

said Alma eagerly. 'Advise me

th all the silly conventionalities and propr

erstand me perfectl

ssible, we would h

ul! Don't speak o

have never had any experience of. For one thing, you know'-she leaned back, smiling, at ease-'people won't behave to you quite

be living among th

people you seek who matter, but the people that will seek you; an

ous, kept her eyes down

hink I un

feared for you; I know you too well. It's a question of being informed and on one's guard

ib

prepared-armed; the word isn't a bit too strong, as I know perfectly

e, breaking it at length

day longer than I can help. The old life is over for me. If only it had come about

h simulates intense feeling in certain natures. A flush stole to her cheek; her ey

ought of the

tage?

your look-it just crossed my mind-but of course you have much greater things before

the girl, with a little laug

am going aw

ame again crept over it, an

truth is that my position is just a little like yours: on the whole, I'm rather glad. Hugh wants desperately to get to the other

think no

otes. Don't expect long descriptive letters; I don't care to do indifferently what other people have done well and put into print-it's a waste

he rose to leave, Alma, but for her sombre drapings, was totally changed f

id, 'who would have behaved t

. Let us admire each other; it does

e think and say of me what they like; I don't car

xes impa

ey never talked of men, and a jest of this kind had nov

y-quite,' s

our of Hugh's friend, Mr. Ro

trayed

n't much like Mr. Rolfe,' she said

e grows upon one. I think him interest

d he i

nce of women fancy-free, and

felt better than for many a day. Brightly responsiv

mper. I wonder whether he really has lost money, and

is his age?' asked

ht. But I always thi

he'll nev

as his open-air moods, too, and amuses me with his Jingoism. So different from his old ways of talking; but I didn't care much about him in those days. Wel